A short distance up-stream from the Main Street Bridge, across the East Fork Little Miami River, a low-head dam was constructed to form a pool of water from which Batavia drew its water supply. In recent years the village switched from producing its own water supply to obtaining water from Clermont County.

When my husband and I first moved to Batavia, I became fascinated with this old, wooden, 4-story abandoned wreck of a building I drove past regularly. It was wedged between the road and the river. Painted advertising was still visible on the front, labeling it Batavia Roller Mill, Definite Feeds for Definite Needs. I needed to know more.